A new process of certification aimed to better facilitate arriving passengers into New Zealand travelling with specific food items in umu packs from Tonga is expected to be implemented in November, after a Memorandum of Understanding was signed on October 4 in Nuku'alofa.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFFF) Hon Semisi Fakahau signed the MOU for Passenger Accompanied Food Export Pathway Program with Head of Biosecurity New Zealand and CEO Ministry for Primary Industries (MPIE), Roger Smith.

Mr Smith said this is to enable Tonga's Ministry to carry out the pre-inspection of the umu packs, certify that the food is safe for New Zealand's biosecurity and then issue a certificate to show upon arrival at Auckland Airport. 

In return, New Zealand officers would then under this new process respect the certificate made in Tonga and will not have to open and re-examine the food as it is being done now.

He said umu packs will be checked here by the Ministry and as long as they are good for New Zealand and it meets their requirements with the certificate correct then passengers can go through, and avoid the current process of standing in a long queue with the umu packs at Auckland airport.

“In New Zealand, biosecurity is of critical importance to our economy and environment and we look at ways that we can improve. We are very proud today to be here in Tonga to work with our colleagues in the Ministry to improve our biosecurity for your citizens and ours,” he said.

“Its a historical day for us, this is the first country that we are piloting this process with and it’s a recognition of the trust and respect we have for Tonga and the respect and trust we have in the travellers between our countries."

He said the benefit for New Zealand is that they have staff that spent a lot of time looking at umu packs, this will allow them to spend more time on more important high risk goods.

High compliance

Mr Smith said they found travellers from Tonga have been very compliant and trustworthy.

“Our experts and scientists have been checking the passenger pathway and the compliance rate for Tongan travellers is 97 percent, so it’s very trustworthy, so we like to trust those travellers and this what this signing is about. We have done the statistical samples with the Ministry and we know that we can trust the certification done by them here,” he said.

Over the past months, a number of Tongan staff have been trained on New Zealand's standard for biosecurity.

“After the signing, the work continues on the technical aspects of the process like the office at Fua'amotu International Airport, looking at where the umu packs are inspected, verifying its security seal and how they are wrapped, among others. But the main thing now is that we have signed this government to government agreement and the work begins,” he said.

“This is a very important initiative for both our countries and a great opportunity for us to work together, it's a good positive story.”

The Minister thanked the New Zealand team for the excellent work that enabled the signing of the agreement between the two governments.

“On behalf of government, we are very happy that we have got to this stage, developing a very important area in biosecurity. We are very happy and more than willing to proceed to sign the agreement and get the staff get on with the work and put into practice,” he said.